JUSTIN CHARLES Jr - 7 Weeks - Salix PA

SALIX —
The father of a South Fork infant admitted to police that he broke the
boy’s legs and shook him so violently that he became unresponsive and
later died, a Cambria County detective testified Tuesday.



Detective Kevin Price was one of three witnesses to testify in a
preliminary hearing for 23-year-old Justin Michael Charles Sr., who is
charged with criminal homicide.

Seven-week-old Justin Charles Jr. died Dec. 23 at Children’s Hospital
of Pittsburgh. The boy was declared brain dead and was removed from life
support, said Dr. Janet Squires, head of a child-advocacy program at
Children’s Hospital, paramedic Chad Stiffey said.

“From the moment the baby arrived, there was essentially no hope the
child would live,” Squires said in testimony via telephone.

The infant was suffering from multiple leg fractures, retinal
hemorrhaging and subdural hematoma. The boy’s injuries indicated child
abuse, Squires testified.

District Judge Rick Varner ordered Charles to county court to face
trial. In addition to criminal homicide, he also is charged with
aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and
endangering the welfare of a child.

Charles was returned to Cambria County Prison, where he is being held without bond.

http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x1296867370/Suspect-sent-to-trial-for-infant-son-s-death